A new analysis from the JUPITER study shows that CRESTOR (rosuvastatin)
20mg significantly cut the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) by 43% (p
=0.007) compared to placebo among men and women with low to normal
cholesterol levels and elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP).
This analysis was presented today at the 58th Annual American College of
Cardiology Scientific Sessions (ACC), in Orlando Florida, and published
simultaneously in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Venous thromboembolism, a serious and sometimes fatal condition, occurs
when a blood clot forms in a vein. The most common form of VTE is deep vein
thrombosis (DVT), which usually occurs in the 'deep veins' in the legs or
pelvis. An embolism is created if the clot travels through the venous system.
Blood clots lodging in the lungs are known as a pulmonary embolism (PE).
Estimates suggest that at least 350,000 and as many as 600,000 Americans
annually contract DVT/PE, and at least 100,000 deaths are thought to be
related to these diseases each year.

Additional results of this secondary endpoint analysis of JUPITER showed
rosuvastatin 20mg produced a significant 55% (p=0.004) reduction in the risk
of DVT and a non-significant 23% reduction in PE (p=0.42).

"This is the first time a statin has been shown to reduce the risk of VTE
in a large, randomized, prospective study," said Michael Cressman,
AstraZeneca's Medical Science Director for CRESTOR, "This observed benefit
appears to be additional to the reduction in CV events already demonstrated
by rosuvastatin in the primary analysis of JUPITER."

Rosuvastatin 20mg was well tolerated in nearly 9,000 patients during the
course of the JUPITER study.

Rosuvastatin is not indicated for the prevention of cardiovascular events
or venous thromboembolism. Rosuvastatin should be used according to the
prescribing information, which contains recommendations for initiating and
titrating therapy according to the individual patient profile. In most
countries, the usual recommended starting dose of rosuvastatin is 10 mg.

About Jupiter

Results from the primary analysis of JUPITER (Justification for the Use
of statins in Primary prevention: an Intervention Trial Evaluating
Rosuvastatin), originally presented in November 2008 at the American Heart
Association's Annual Scientific Sessions, and published by the New England
Journal of Medicine, showed rosuvastatin 20mg significantly reduced major
cardiovascular (CV) events (combined risk of myocardial infarction, stroke,
arterial revascularization, hospitalization for unstable angina, or death
from CV causes) by 44%, compared to placebo (p
JUPITER was a long-term, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled,
large-scale study of 17,802 patients designed to determine if rosuvastatin 20
mg decreases the risk of heart attack, stroke and other major cardiovascular
events in patients with low to normal LDL-C but at increased cardiovascular
risk as identified by age and elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein
(hsCRP). The majority of patients had at least one other risk factor
including hypertension, low HDL-C, family history of premature coronary heart
disease (CHD) or smoking. hsCRP is a recognized marker of inflammation which
is associated with an increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular
events.

JUPITER is a part of AstraZeneca's extensive GALAXY clinical trials
program, designed to address important unanswered questions in statin
research. Currently, more than 69,000 patients have been recruited from 55
countries worldwide to participate in the GALAXY Program.

AstraZeneca has previously announced that it expects to file a regulatory
submission including the JUPITER data in the first half of 2009 and if
approved will begin promotional activities within the approved labeling.

About Crestor (Rosuvastatin Calcium)

Studies have previously shown that CRESTOR significantly lowered LDL- C,
had a significant effect on raising HDL-C and slowed the progression of
atherosclerosis, an underlying cause of cardiovascular disease.

CRESTOR has now received regulatory approval in over 95 countries. Nearly
15 million patients have been prescribed CRESTOR worldwide. Data from
clinical trials and real world use shows that the safety profile for CRESTOR
is in line with other marketed statins.

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a major international healthcare business engaged in the
research, development, manufacturing and marketing of meaningful prescription
medicines and supplier for healthcare services. AstraZeneca is one of the
world's leading pharmaceutical companies with healthcare sales of US$ 31.6
billion and is a leader in gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neuroscience,
respiratory, oncology and infectious disease medicines. For more information
about AstraZeneca, please visit: httpastrazeneca

This press release has been made available on worldwide press
communication media for the benefit of correspondents writing for the
medical professional press. Differing national legislation, codes of
practice, medical practice etc mean that you should contact your local
AZ press office to obtain information designed for use in your country.
In particular this press release has not been prepared for use in the USA.